[en] The distribution of Cd, In, and Sn cations on the spinel lattice was investigated across the solid solution, Cd_1+xIn_2-2xSn_xO₄. Convergent beam electron diffraction was used to establish the presence of the spinel crystallography throughout the solid solution. Atom location by channeling enhanced microanalysis was employed to determine the distributions of cations on the octahedral and tetrahedral lattice sites. CdIn₂O₄ was observed to be a normal-type spinel. As x was increased, the cation distribution became more random as Cd and Sn filled the octahedral sublattice. These observations may correlate with previously observed changes in optical gap and conductivity across the solution

[en] We present experimental evidence of in situ fabrication of multi-walled carbon nanotube junctions via electron beam induced deposition. The tip-to-tip interconnection of the nanotubes involves the alignment of two nanotubes via a piezodriven nanomanipulator and nano-welding by electron beam deposition. Hydrocarbon contamination from the pump oil vapour of the vacuum system of the TEM chamber was used as the solder; this is superior to the already available metallic solders because its composition is identical to the carbon nanotube. The hydrocarbon deposition, with perfect wettability, on the nanotubes establishes strong mechanical binding between the two nanotubes to form an integrated structure. Consequently, the nanotubes cross-linked by the hydrocarbon solder produce good electrical and mechanical connections. The joint dimension was determined by the size of the electron beam, which results in a sound junction with well-defined geometry and the smallest junction size obtained so far. In situ electric measurement showed a linear current-voltage property for the multi-walled nanotube junction

[en] The fabrication of nonvolatile ferroelectric random access memories based on SrBi₂Ta₂O₉ (SBT) or other ferroelectric capacitors require exposure of these capacitors to processing gases mixtures including hydrogen. This results in a strong degradation of the capacitor electrical properties, mainly due to the interaction of hydrogen with the ferroelectric layer. Using surface analysis methods, we previously determined that the hydrogen-induced degradation of SBT capacitors might be partially due to the degradation of the near surface region of the SBT layer. It was also demonstrated that oxygen annealing after the hydrogen exposure results in the recovery of the degraded SBT surface layer and the electrical properties of the capacitor. We have now performed detailed cross sectional transmission electron microscopy studies of virgin, hydrogen, and oxygen annealed SBT/Pt/TiO₂/SiO₂/Si heterostructures. These studies combined microstructural imaging with a nanoscale compositional analysis of the SBT layer as a function of depth from the free surface of the film and across grain boundaries. High resolution energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy revealed that hydrogen annealed SBT layers have a deficiency of Bi up to a depth of ∼30 nm underneath the free surface, and that there is accumulation of Bi at the grain boundaries of pristine, hydrogen, and oxygen-recovery annealed SBT layers. This suggests that the diffusion of Bi is largely controlled by grain boundaries and they play a critical role in controlling the electrical properties of SBT capacitors. (c) 2000 American Institute of Physics

[en] A carbon nitride phase with primarily sp³-bonded carbon is stabilized in CN_x/ZrN superlattice coatings. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry measurements give a N/C atomic ratio ∼1.3 for the CN_x layers. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and Z-contrast imaging from the superlattice show a well-defined layer structure. Raman and near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy results reveal the formation of sp³-bonded carbon atoms in short-period CN_x/ZrN superlattices. (c) 2000 American Institute of Physics

[en] The requirement for large bulk resistivity in topological insulators has led to the design of complex ternary and quaternary phases with balanced donor and acceptor levels. A common feature of the optimized phases is that they lie close to the p- to n-transition. The tetradymite Bi_2Te_3_−_xSe_x system exhibits minimum bulk conductance at the ordered composition Bi_2Te_2Se. By combining local and integral measurements of the density of states, we find that the point of minimum electrical conductivity at x = 1.0 where carriers change from hole-like to electron-like is characterized by conductivity of the mixed type. Our experimental findings, which are interpreted within the framework of a two-band model for the different carrier types, indicate that the mixed state originates from different types of native defects that strongly compensate at the crossover point

[en] Unraveling the complex morphology of functional materials like core–shell nanoparticles and its evolution in different environments is still a challenge. Only recently has the single-particle coherent diffraction imaging (CDI), enabled by the ultrabright femtosecond free-electron laser pulses, provided breakthroughs in understanding mesoscopic morphology of nanoparticulate matter. Here, we report the first CDI results for Co-SiO₂ core–shell nanoparticles randomly clustered in large airborne aggregates, obtained using the x-ray free-electron laser at the Linac Coherent Light Source. Our experimental results compare favourably with simulated diffraction patterns for clustered Co-SiO₂ nanoparticles with ∼10 nm core diameter and ∼30 nm shell outer diameter, which confirms the ability to resolve the mesoscale morphology of complex metastable structures. The findings in this first morphological study of core–shell nanomaterials are a solid base for future time-resolved studies of dynamic phenomena in complex nanoparticulate matter using x-ray lasers. (paper)